Last week I stood in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty as we dedicated a new museum to celebrate the evolution of the acceptance of immigrants who came to our country in search of a better life. I was reminded that it was tough for many early immigrants like my grandparents who encountered discrimination and signs that read "Irish Need Not Apply" when they first arrived.

What is the relevance of this today? There is a new bill that would enable all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a driver's license. This "Green Light" bill has been controversial among some county clerks. Twelve years ago, I was one of those in opposition to a different version of the concept.

Why do I now support it? Because the facts are in: Allowing all immigrants the opportunity to go through the same driver's license process makes Erie County and New York state a safer place for all New Yorkers. It's the exact opposite of what you hear from those against it.

When considering issues, we in government are called upon to be open to new facts and circumstances, and not be stubbornly captive to a position once held. This has been the great American story, as our nation and its people have evolved on issues such as civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights.

Back when I was county clerk, I was concerned about the use of a driver's license as identification for access to airplanes and secure government installations. Today, those concerns do not exist because over the years the federal government has now mandated passengers use what's called a REAL ID license or identification card to board a plane, which requires proof of citizenship. Indeed, the Green Light bill under consideration today simply allows for license holders to drive a vehicle.

Additional information that we did not have over a decade ago when there was not a track record from others states to study now proves it is safer to ensure that all motorists have the proper training and insurance.

Since 2007, more than a dozen other states have extended driver's licenses to the undocumented — and it has been a great success story. The fact is that in those states, roads are safer, hit-and-runs are down, the number of uninsured drivers dropped dramatically, insurance premiums got cheaper, and immigrant communities contributed greatly to the economy. My opinion, like those of many others, has evolved, based on the fact that driver's licenses for New York will make us a safer state for all New Yorkers.

That's why I now believe the Green Light Bill is good for New York.

That's why I join in unequivocally supporting this movement, not just as an issue of fairness, but one of public safety.

It also provides economic benefits for upstate — there are tough jobs that we need filled and there's limited mass transit. Driver's licenses would help workers get to their jobs, especially on farms, which helps their employers meet a serious need. And it would open the door to more customers for local businesses as those same people would now have greater access to drive to stores and commercial hubs.

These individuals live among us, in our neighborhoods and rural areas. They should have the ability to drive to their job on a farm, factory or office, or take a sick child to a doctor.

Finally, it should also be clear that this is not a new right. Undocumented immigrants in New York once had the right to drive — and thrived — until Gov. George Pataki took it away with a stroke of his pen nearly 20 years ago.

This issue has evolved since I was a county clerk, and I believe that a compassionate society would not turn its back on people who are already contributing in so many ways. I am grateful that the doors were open to my grandparents, and granting this right does nothing to diminish the rights of American citizens whatsoever.

It's a different world for our immigrant neighbors, and this common sense measure to make all of us safer on our highways is now long overdue.